The pedestrian bridge connecting Mercedes-Benz Stadium to a nearby transit stop won't be open in time for the Super Bowl, despite the city allocating an additional $12 million in funding for exactly that goal.
The pedestrian bridge connecting Mercedes Benz Stadium to the Vine City MARTA Station won't be open in time for the Super Bowl, reports Sean Keenan, despite extra expenses above its original $13 million price tag designed to deliver the project in time for the game.
"What was initially supposed to be a $13 million project resulting in a neon-lit bridge linking the western border of Northside Drive—namely the Vine City MARTA station—with Atlanta’s new sports arena had spiked in total costs, due in part to a sense of urgency to complete it for the biggest event in American football," according to Keenan.
Early last year, the Atlanta City Council elected to green light more than $12 million in additional funding for the pedestrian bridge—“because of next year’s Super Bowl,” the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in March—and urbanist blog ThreadATL clocks the current price tag at upwards of $27 million.
The the Atlanta Business Chronicle originally reported the news about the bridge's closure for the Super Bowl, in an article that could be behind a paywall for some readers.
Inside the $2 Billion Stadium Hosting the Super Bowl
The hot dogs cost $1,999,999,998 less than the stadium, and either $199,999,998 or $699,999,998 less than taxpayers invested in the stadium.
Sunday Fun: The Super Bowl in Atlanta on Social Media
Traffic and cars play a central role in the social media chatter surrounding the Super Bowl in Atlanta.
Atlanta Pedestrian Bridge—Not a Good Example of Public Dollars Well Spent
The bridge was touted as a connection between downtown and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but it is more a reflection of the city’s misplaced fiscal and planning priorities.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.
From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service